Move over Six wives, you’ve got stiff competition from the Five!Īdd to the list of scene-stealing comics Jeff Blumenkrantzand Reggie De Leon, the Fates - respectively, Panic and Pain (not that you’d ever want your fate in their hands), who not unashamedly channel Lion King’s meerkat and warthog duo, Timon and Pubmbaa. The scene-stealer list is quite long, but topping it, with the exception of muscled Gibson in his modest outfit, are two outrageously-guilty parties: the straight outa Motown Muses, who musically guide the audience through the ages: Charity AngélDawson( Waitress) as Clio, the muse of history Tiffany Mann ( Waitress) as Calliope, the muse of poetry Anastacia McCleskey( Caroline, or Change) as Thalia, muse of comedy Destinee Rea ( The Book of Mormon) as Terpsichore, the muse of dance and Rashidra Scott( Company) as Melpomene, the muse of tragedy. As good as the score and wildly re-crafted book is, Hercules is blessed to have him. No spangles and costumes that could light up a theatre, here. He is more subdued here – well, until he brought the house down opening Act Two with “I’m Back.” Hercules gives audiences an opportunity to see what an exceptionally-talented actor he is. Inglehart, if you recall, literally stole the entire production with his Tony-winning Genie in Aladdin. He rises to the challenge of anchoring an entire show and gave a knock-out rendit ion of “Go the Distance” that had the audience in an uproar. It was directed by Lear deBessonet, who’s returned to direct this new production.Portraying the coveted role of Hercules is Bradley Gibson(a Simba in The Lion King, A Bronx Tale: The Musical). In 2019, the first stage adaption of Hercules premiered at Central Park’s Delacorte Theatre as part of the Public Theater’s free Public Works series. It grossed a whopping $100,000,000, so you know there’d be life to come. The musical is based on Disney’s 1997 animated film written by Ron Clements, John Musker, Donald McEnery, Bob Shaw, and Irene Mecchi, and directed by Clements and John Musker. The revamped book is by Tony winner Robert Horn ( Tootsie) and Kwame Kwei-Armah, artistic director of London’s Young Vic. Megara, her freedom from eternal fire if she can trap Hercules. He promises snarky femme fatale, Meg, a.k.a. And to raise the wrath of Hades, whose goal, akin to Scar’s in The Lion King, is to rule the world (above) his way. He steps out into the world to help and protect others. He senses he’s destined for greater things than menial house work. Growing up, in spite of his strength he’s terribly awkward and feared and bullied by the townspeople. He’s stronger than the poison and is found and adopted far from the gates of Zeus. Hoebee is Paper Mill’s producing artistic director, with Michael Stotts is executive director.īaby Hercules is kidnapped with King of the Underworld Hades’ plotting to have him killed by the Fates. Hercules is directed by Obie Award winner Lear deBessonet ( Into the Woods), who’ll you soon learn is no stranger to this show. The Paper Mill production is presentedby special arrangement with Disney Theatrical Productions. Hercules, the saga of the strongman son of Zeus seeking divine status, has music by Disney treasure and EGOT Alan Menken ( Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Newsies, more) and lyrics by celebrated Tony winner ( City of Angels), Oscar and Grammy nominee and million-selling songwriter David Zippel - the lyricist for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s just arrived Bad Cinderella and Disney’s Mulan). If you’ve been waiting for a lavish and fun and very musical event to get you back to live theatre, this is it. Ma– Paper Mill Playhouse (22 Brookside Drive, Millburn, NJ) has officially opened Disney’s totally revamped mega musical, aptly titled Hercules. Powerhouse Musical Hercules Opens at NJ’s Paper Mill Playhouse, Running through March 19, 2023
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